Denver Social Security Law Firm Provides Compassionate Representation to the Disabled

Firm Overview

Practice is limited to Social Security Disability, PERA and Short and Long Term Disability (ERISA) cases involving Employer and Union benefit plans and other private disability insurance matters. Mike Krieger has represented disabled plaintiffs in over 35 US District Court cases and hundreds of disabled claimants in Social Security, ERISA and PERA disability administrative appeals.

Clients can chose either contingent or hourly fees in most ERISA & PERA cases

Office Information

Office Hours

Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Office Manager

Joannie Pelszynska

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Languages Spoken

No

Mike Krieger is one of a handful of attorneys in Colorado who provides representation to claimants in PERA and ERISA cases, in addition to Social Security cases.

Social Security disability cases involve earnings-based income benefits (SSDI) and supplemental security benefits (SSI). Mike Krieger represents claimants at the administrative and trial in Colorado, at the appeals level in Washington DC, and before the US District Court level.

PERA cases involve disabled persons employed by the state of Colorado, various counties in Colorado and many school districts. These claims for disability are governed by regulations and laws that are distinctly different from Social Security cases.

ERISA cases arise from employee benefit plans of large and medium size companies doing business in Colorado. These cases also involve Union plans that provide disability benefits to their members. These cases are decided under a complex set of procedures, regulations and federal case law, which are completely different from Social Security and PERA cases.

Is your firm willing to help a client with one discrete part of a case, without taking on the whole case?

Generally the answer is "no" because, as a practical matter, this is almost impossible to do. For example, the result in a Social Security case can effect the outcome in an ERISA case. Evidence in a Social Security case, if improperly submitted, can adversely effect the amount of benefits in an ERISA case. We often can "pick up" representation in a Social Security case when another law firm has failed to represent the Claimant properly, as long as we have time to fix prior mistakes and prepare for trial.

What are your policies about dividing work within the firm to make the process most cost-effective for the client?

Mr. Noel and Mr. Krieger live, eat and breathe disability law and, because the firm's practice is limited, our best resource is usually one another. Outside of that, we attend continuing education to further this objective. We have faith in our staff who are highly trained in disability matters. We utilize our talented paralegals where appropriate. Attorneys always represent clients in hearings and trials, of course.

How frequently does your firm use mediation, arbitration, or collaborative law to resolve cases?

In Social Security cases we collaborate with SSA staffers to resolve cases. The opportunity may not happen in most cases, however. In ERISA and PERA disability cases, we encourage mediation and settlement where reasonable.

Yes. Mike Krieger was a Jefferson County board member of the metro area Scientific Cultural Facilities District (the SCFD) for 5 years. He has participated in numerous committees of the Colorado Bar Association, including an ethics committee and the Disability Bar Section, and is a member of the Faculty of Federal Advocates of the Colorado US District Court.

What distinguishes your law firm from others?

We limit our practice to disability law in the forums of Social Security, ERISA (Union and Employer) and PERA. No other firm in Colorado does this. We also believe our practice of handling your case is attentive to detail, evidence-based, and focused strictly on winning your case. For example, we have a unique "bank" of over 250 questionnaires, tailored to specific diseases, sensory losses, and mental health issues, which we send to treating doctors in order to develop written opinions, approved by your doctors. Our pre-trial preparation of your testimony is detailed and designed to anticipate the questions of your specific judge.

What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

We encourage client education. We have a website designed for this purpose and also stand ready to answer their questions. We don't stop advising our clients after the case is won: we provide advice in the future regarding Medicare eligibility, Medicaid, "Aid to the Needy Disabled" benefits, OAP, Food Stamps and other state support programs and federal taxes on benefits, well after the hearing.

Is your firm willing to review documents prepared by clients?

Yes. In fact, we encourage Client input, and many times will take letters written by Clients and edit them so that they become Affidavits, which can be placed in evidence for trial.

Is your firm willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

Generally the answer is no. For an hourly or flat fee, we have done this on some occasions. The problem is that many such clients damage the case on their own and then look to us to fix the mistakes when it is too late.

Michael Krieger

Michael Krieger earned a Bachelor's Degree and, in 1979, earned a Masters Degree in Psychology before entering law school at the University of Colorado, graduating in the top 20% of his class in 1981. After practicing for a very large law firm in downtown Denver, Mr. Krieger and a colleague left to start a small law firm in 1984 in Englewood, Colorado. This firm grew to 7 lawyers and, in 2005, Mr. Krieger and James Noel split off to form a law firm whose practice was limited to disability law. In the past decade, our firm has represented more than a thousand disabled persons in the Colorado, administrative, Social Security and federal court systems.

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